same hill, different day

I love this photo series chronicling the many lives of one place.

Images by Paul Octavious

the end

Everything always works out in the end. If it isn't worked out, it isn't the end.

Prudent advice giver and dear friend Jaime gave me this piece of advice. It's comforting and exciting all at the same time. I've shared it with friends and now I will pass it along to you.

bunny ears

I spotted these at Pike Place Market and thought they were genius. Aren't the ears the best part of a chocolate bunny?

speakeasy

One of our first stops Friday night in Seattle was Tavern Law. In the back of the bar sits the door to an old bank vault and a black rotary phone. We rung upstairs and were let into the small space known as Needle & Thread. After rattling off our favorite flavor profiles (herbal, citrus) and liquors (whiskey, vodka), the bartender served up custom craft cocktails. The housemade bitters steal the show with the cardamom the runaway favorite. Delicious.

vintage mix tape

I was digging around in some boxes and stumbled upon the mix tape featured below. This was gifted to me circa 1995. Please enjoy.

I Know a Place-The Lemonheads

Blister In The Sun-Violent Femmes

Send Me On My Way-Rusted Root

Galileo-Indigo Girls

Melissa-Allman Brothers Band

Tempted-Squeeze

All I Want-Toad the Wet Sprocket

Rosealia-Better Than Ezra

Girl, You'll Be A Woman Soon-Urge Overkill

I'll Stand By You-The Pretenders

she & him

I'm going to see She & Him perform tonight at the El Rey. Their new album, Volume Two, came out this week and it's all I'm listening to. Zooey Deschanel has such a lovely old fashioned charm to her voice. The perfect music for a lazy weekend afternoon.

coffee bean dreams

Kelly and I are headed out to Seattle on Friday and our friends Reid and Ian have put together a spectacular itinerary for us, including a tasting at Stumptown Coffee. Heaven. Tales from our adventure to come.

PS I also have a fantasy of catching a fish tossed at me at Pike Place Market. I've been told you're really not allowed to do that, but we'll see. :)

Poster image by Standard

the times, they are a changin

Yesterday, history was made.

the view from the top

Isn't it gorgeous up at The Getty Center? Next time I go back, it will be with a picnic lunch in tow.

spring forward mix tape

Here Comes The Sun-The Beatles

First Day of My Life-Bright Eyes

You Make My Dreams-Hall & Oates

Passing Afternoon-Iron and Wine

The Charging Sky-Jenny Lewis with The Watson Twins

Moondance-Van Morrison

Concrete Sky-Beth Orton

Fell Down The Stairs-Tilly and The Wall

Snails-The Format

Mansford Roof-Vampire Weekend

Live To Be Free-Griffin House

mixtape friends

Love these guys sharing the mixtape love.

Image by whaleandbee

debate on unrequited love

Charlie Brown once said, "Nothing takes the taste out of peanut butter quite like unrequited love." I'm working on a song speaking to this now, and while slightly depressing yes, there aren't many other subjects so rich with material. And you could argue some of the greatest love stories of all time have their roots in the subject: Gone With The Wind, Wuthering Heights, Cyrano de Bergerac. So with that said:

An Unrequited Mix Tape

He Comes For Conversation-Joni Mitchell

Layla-Eric Clapton

Jessie's Girl-Rick Springfield

I Want You to Want Me-Cheap Trick

Maria-Blondie

Sitting, Waiting, Wishing-Jack Johnson

hipstamatic

Hipstamatic is my newest favorite iPhone app. So fun right?

los angeles burger round up

In my humble opinion there is often nothing better than a burger and a beer. The LA burger scene has really heated up as of late and these have risen to the top for me.

The Counter: The ultimate in the customizable burger. You build it from scratch and write it all down on a cute little clipboard. They also get my vote for best veggie.

Umami Burger: What is umami you ask? They call it the "fifth taste", think the savory deliciousness of meat and cheese. These are a bit more exotic (there's a truffle burger and a port & stilton) but completely craveable.

Father's Office: Still my tried and true favorite. Some people are turned off by the fact that they don't allow any substitutions, but trust them. They know what they're doing.

song of myself

I first discovered Walt Whitman, as most do, in high school English class. This passage from Leaves of Grass has always stuck with me.

Failing to fetch me at first keep encouraged

Missing me one place search another

I stop somewhere waiting for you

-Walt Whitman, 1855

angie in wonderland

With the Tim Burton film now out in theatres, it seems like time to revisit an Alice In Wonderland themed bridal shower I threw for my dear friend Angie back in December. Kelly over at yes, please designed the whimsical invites and succulents and Jacinda from Prudent Baby made the fabulous cookie favors. Get the curiouser and curiouser surprise ball tutorial here. We had a lovely time falling down the rabbit hole.

ace in the hole

What a beautiful sight to wake up to. I'm out at the Ace Hotel in Palm Springs with two of my favorite ladies soaking up the sun and doing some songwriting. This has become a creative ritual of ours, often prolific, sometimes challenging. I couldn't be luckier to have such good company to share it all with.

it's funny how falling feels like flying

I was so happy about the Oscar wins for Crazy Heart. T Bone Burnett's ability to produce original songs so full of memories and history that you swear you've heard them before is really an incredible feat.

rainy day

I love rainy days in LA. Today I snuggled in at home, played guitar, drank tea and made yummy nutella banana bread found here.

triple trenta sugar free vanilla latte?

Dear Starbucks, I love you and I cherish our time together each day, but even I don't know if I can get behind the new "trenta" size. That's 32 oz of coffee!